The Bee Dungeon

Chapter 189: Bee the Circle?

Belissar was walking back through the battle meadow, preparing for the daily purification when he paused and blinked. There, sticking out of a patch of flowers in front of the wooden platform he made for Beero and the wounded bees, was a sharpened stake. A sharpened stake he certainly did not remember placing.

He was about to ask Niobee if the bees had seen anything when he heard the loud and deep hum of a bumblebee soldier’s wings. He turned to look and found two bumblebees and a few squads of soldiers working together to carry a big, sharpened stake through the air. A squad of digging soldiers flew ahead, landed on the ground, and began to dig a hole. The soldiers and bumble bees carried the stake overhead, spun it around so the tip pointed up, and then placed it down into the hole.

Belissar slowly began to smile.

“Wow, so the bees can build stuff on their own now. That’s amazing. Niobee, could you remind me later to ask if they need anything? We could also check with the karnuq if they want stone or clay or anything.”

“Ok, will!”

For now, though, Belissar just walked forward and praised the bees for their hard work. The construction ceased for a round of happy dances, and to make way for the daily purification.

The purification was handled without issue and Belissar turned in for the night.

The next day, Tarwantrad returned early in the morning and Belissar went to greet her, accompanied by Chief Rohsuak, Metsaitti, and some karnuq hunters in addition to Niobee and his usual soldier bee escort. Tarwantrad smiled as she saw him.

“Hello Belissar, I’m happy to see you again.”

“Hello Tarwantrad, it’s good to see you.”

She smiled at him for a moment longer before her smile dropped and she sighed.

“So, I am here to relay to you the Compact’s decision, as well as to negotiate further with you.”

Belissar matched his expression to her serious tone as he nodded.

“Ah, got it. So…what’s going to happen?”

Tarwantrad heaved an exasperated sigh.

“So…I may have underestimated how afraid the Compact would be of meeting humans again. As of yet, they have not decided what to do, only that they do not wish you to visit for now. I am sorry, Belissar.”

Belissar shook his head.

“That’s fine, I guess. As long as they don’t expect to come here. They aren’t going to attack or anything, right?”

Tarwantrad shook her head.

“The wardmaster has forbidden it on her authority as defender of the Compact, so you don’t need to worry about that. Fortunately, we have also determined a way forward without waiting, as you are a dungeon master as well as a human.”

She gave him a smile.

“It is my honor to recommend you for the Circle of Dungeon Masters. The Circle is the community of dungeon masters I alluded to beforehand. We agree to follow a code of conduct for a dungeon masters, mostly regarding how we use our powers to treat those outside our dungeons, and to support one another with friendly exchanges. If you were to join, we could arrange additional exchanges, not just between you and I but with the other members of the circle as well.”

Her face fell a bit.

“Additionally, should you become a member of the Circle, it would reassure the rest of the Compact as to your intentions. And if worst came to pass, the Compact cannot move against a member of the Circle without the Circle’s approval, so we would ensure that nothing occurs you would find unpleasant.”

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Belissar frowned. It seemed that the Compact were not all as friendly as Tarwantrad. Her last little bit, rather than reassuring Belissar, made him wonder if unpleasant occurrences were indeed a possibility, especially if he didn’t agree to join this circle business. It sounded like the Tower Lord’s Conclave, come to think of it, though he didn’t actually know how the Conclave worked so he couldn’t really say exactly how similar they were. But that did make him hesitate. He narrowed his eyes slightly.

“So…what would I need to do to join this circle? And, what sort of rules do you have?”

Tarwantrad took it in stride and didn’t react to his tone.

“Members of the Circle must agree to treat other beings with respect. We have great power as dungeon as dungeon masters, we must not use these powers to coerce or dominate over others. We must treat those around us as equals.”

Belissar blinked.

“So, um, you don’t lie to keep peasants out of your Towers and take their food as tribute? Or burn down their villages to keep them away from new Towers? And call it all the will of the gods?”

Tarwantrad froze for a moment before her face twisted in horror and rage.

“What? No! Of course, not!”

Tarwantrad paused for another moment before she turned her own glare to him.

“Is that…is that what human dungeon masters do?”

Belissar nodded. Tarwantrad scowled before suddenly blinking. She slowly turned her gaze back to Belissar, her eyes beginning to tremble.

“Is that…what you were taught to do, Belissar?”

Now it was Belissar’s turn to scowl as he shook his head with all his might.

“I’m not going to be like the Tower Lords.”

Tarwantrad’s face slowly untwisted and she smiled at him once more.

“Good. I can assure you, the Circle of Dungeon Masters was founded precisely to prevent the sort of thing you’re describing.”

Belissar took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

“Ok, then, what would I need to do?”

Tarwantrad nodded.

“A pair of dungeon masters from the Circle would arrive to interview and tour a bit of your dungeon. They would swear to their patrons not to harm you or your dungeon in the process, so you need not be concerned about them, though you would need to swear not to harm them in turn for the duration of the visit. Once they are satisfied that your methods are compatible with the ideals of the Circle, you would be invited as an associate.”

Belissar rubbed his chin.

“I see. Could I have a moment to think about it?”

Tarwantrad gave him another smile.

“Of course, take your time.”

Belissar nodded back and then stepped away with Niobee, Chief Rohsuak, and Metsaitti. Niobee filled in the queens through one of the communers as well.

“So, what do you think?”

Chief Rohsuak hummed as she rubbed her chin, adopting a serious expression.

“I…am tentatively in favor, Tower Keeper. I am wary of the fairies and their supposed ability to manipulate…but if this one has not outright lied to us then apparently they need us? And more than we need them, which should make them agreeable, and they could be a powerful ally for us if we could work something out. It will depend on the exact rules this Circle follows and if they will interfere with your existing arrangements, both with us and the sigmaka.”

Metsaitti crossed his arms.

“We also need to be able to defend ourselves. Treating others with respect is fine, but they need to be aware that your Tower is isolated and surrounded by the Hunger and potentially hostile tribes…not to mention the humans and the other Sacred Den Masters we might encounter. If their rules don’t account for that, then it would be dangerous for us to follow them to the letter.”

Belissar tilted his head.

“What about letting them look around the Tower?”

Chief Rohsuak nodded.

“It’s risky, letting them see your defenses. The oaths they swear may mitigate that risk, but it would depend on the exact wording. It would be wise to insist that they do not use or reveal any information gained on this tour.”

Belissar nodded.

“I see. And what do you all think?”

He directed his question through his Tower voice as he had come to call it, sending it to each of his queens. He waited for the usual flurry of “whatever King chooses!” to die down, at which point some of the queens began to share their own thoughts.

The Firstborn replied first.

“Bee army will keep hive of hives safe.”

Belissar smiled, even though she wouldn’t see it.

“I know you will.”

“New people, new places, new flowers? Want to see!”

The Fourth of the Seventh danced happily about before the First of the Fifth cut in.

“No one should tell King what do. But if offer new flowers, can consider. King knows best.”

Niobee repeated her dance from earlier on his head.

“If hurt King, will sting. If bring new flowers, is fine.”

Belissar nodded.

“Got it, I think I’ve decided, then.”

He walked back over to Tarwantrad.

“So…I’m not opposed, but we might have to discuss some of the rules and the oaths. I don’t want them to use anything they see on this tour against my Tower. And we’ll have to discuss the exact rules to make sure I can protect my Tower, we’ve been attacked before and had another close call. But, as long as that’s fine, then I’d be fine with this tour thing.”

Tarwantrad, though, beamed even at his guarded reply.

“Excellent, I will let them know you are willing.”

Belissar wasn’t sure how to reply. He could only hope that the incoming dungeon masters would be as friendly as Tarwantrad.